Assessment methods

This technique provides a quick and extremely simple way to collect written feedback on student learning. To use the Minute Paper, an instructor stops class two or three minutes early and asks students to respond briefly to some variation on the following two questions: "What was the most important thing you learned during this class?" and "What important question remains unanswered?" Students they write their responses on index cards or half-sheets of scrap paper and hand them in. Plan to set aside five to ten minutes of your next class to use the technique, as well as time later to discuss the results.

The technique consists of asking students to jot down a quick response to one question: "What was the muddiest point in ........?" The focus of the Muddiest Point assessment might be a lecture, a discussion, a homework assignment, a play, or a film. If you are using the technique in class, reserve a few minutes at the end of the class session. Leave enough time to ask the question, to allow students to respond, and to collect their responses by the usual ending time. Collect the responses as or before students leave. Stationing yourself at the door and collecting "muddy points" as students file out is one way; leaving a "muddy point" collection box by the exit is another. Respond to the students' feedback during the next class meeting or as soon as possible afterward.

Instead of raising hands to poll students, a written poll assures anonymity and more accurate data. Students can be polled about material they will encounter in the course. This activity assists in determining an effective starting point and the appropriate level of a lesson.

This activity allows instructors to collect written feedback about what students think are the most important concepts discussed in lecture. A week or two prior to an exam, begin to write general guidelines about the kinds of questions you plan to ask on the exam. Share those guidelines with your students and ask them to write and answer one to two questions like those they expect to see on the exam.

A short, simple questionnaire given to students at the start of a course, or before the introduction of a new unit, lesson or topic. It is designed to uncover students’ pre-conceptions.

After students figure out what type of problem they are dealing with, they often must then decide what principle or principles to apply in order to solve the problem. This technique focuses on this step in problem solving. It provides students with a few problems and asks them to state the principle that best applies to each problem.

Provide students with signals that they can use to communicate with you. Putting up hands may be appropriate for asking questions or a show of hands for decision making activities, but you could also develop other symbols or gestures. For example, a cross, a tick, or a question mark in a hand out, which you could ask the students to hold up to check their understanding at a particular point in the lecture.

Another system is to use traffic lights. For example, you might want to check student understanding during a lecture. Provide students with coloured card which they can hold up.

• Green = Full understanding
• Amber = Partial understanding
• Red = Little understanding

This will give you guidance as to whether you can move on. These are, of course, all ‘low tech’ solutions. Some lecturers will now have access to ‘clickers’ where electronic voting can take place.